The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-10-12
THE HISTORY OF A HERO.
LEAVES FROM THE LIE OF FIGHT.
ING DICh ANDERSON.

southern Mon in Northern Armies-An Al
formative ofDuty or self-Interest-R. II
Anderson IA Case I'm Point-Kcminisccncc
OF His Early Life and tho Record of HI
Military Career.
Bya Member of His Military Familv.)-
Those officers Of the army and navy o.
the United States who in 1861-62 were
called upon to sever their connection
with the service of which they were iustl,
proud, and to which all of their youtf
ana most OF their mature years had beer
devoted, constituted u brave and gallant
band. They thought little of politics
Many of them had been for years scpa,
rated from home ties, and now, By the
action of their States, they were con
tronted by a question of duty on tho ono
hand n on the other Of yielding III
their W interests and their love for tho
banner under which many Of them had
won renown in the past.
A DELICATE QUESTION.
They had been educated firm believers
In the doctrine Of States Rights: thoy
felt their allegiance first due to tbcir
States, but to obey her cnll meant for
them tho sacrifice of hopcsof a Lifetime,
and to some want and poverty, in place
OF q comfortable support, OF which shey
had reasonable assurance. All must DO
surrendered or else they must be deaf to
tho call which was imperative and left
no option. How few hcsitated, md
those who put duty, as they saw it, u'ove
all else, surely deserved much from their
companions.
ASOS OF SUMTER.
One of this number is the subject of
this little sketch. Born in Sumter county.
IN tln State nf South T,~1;., u !
and honorable ancestry, reared on the
soil of that State, there he received his
carly education. Sent thence to West
Point he graduated in the class of 1S42,
ana was appointed a brevet 81 lieutenant
IN the LIST Dragons, United States Army.
In tho Mexican war no served with his
~reglmcntand was brovetted fDr gnllartry.
After It's termination his principal duty
was in the distant West. At Fort kanr-
ney, in Nebraska, he was doing light
duty, and hoping for promotion some
day. When the war between the States
became II certainty, though so far away,
tho call OF the State to arms in her dy-
fence was Immediately obeycd. He re-
signed his commission in the United
States Army, fastened home and ten.
dored his sword to the Governor of $ nth
carolina, and was appointed colonel OF
he LIST regiment Of State Troops, then
IN S%ullivan's Island. The lieutenant
colonel of this regiment was another son
OF Youth Carolina, who was soon np-
pointed n brigadicr general in the army
OF The Confederate States, and whose
llfeB blood was poured out ut Mpnu..as,
while bearing the brunt OF tho battle,
and urging his troops to emulate the
steadiness of Jackson's hcrot '~'stardinp
like a stone wall" When 1arnard f..
Bee died the State lost IL son whose nbili-
ty and devotion to her cause would lave
been a bright and shining light, aud
whose record would have proved him the
peer OF the worthiest of those whose
swords flashed in her defence.
ANDERSON AS A COLONEL.
Peculiarly modest and retiring, almost
self-deprecinting III disposition, the Qujct,
unobtrusivc colonel, who doubted his
ability to be OF much service, except as
commander Of q small body Of the arm
to which he had been accustomed, was
destined in q few short months 10 be
known throughout Gen. Lees army as
'Fighting Dick Anderson, to enjoy the
fullest confidence Of that great COM
mander, and the love and admiration of
as gallant n division of heroes as ever
went to war.
A PROMISE OF GREATER THINGS.
at williamsburg Richard II. Anderson
was temporarily in command of Long
streets division, Of which his own bri-
gade afterwards Jenkins's) formed o
part. There those who knew the man
and relied on his courage and skill first
had assurance that their expectations
would not be disappointed.
At Seven Pines Anderson's brigade
xynn thn oIpNi,uiinn nf tl,a orp,N-. IL
pierced the cnemy's line and captured
Gen. Casey's camp.
OF this charge Gen. Johnston wrote
that II. II. Anderson's brigade OF South
Carolinians bore a prominent part i'll tho
contest. At one time outlanked and
almost surrounded, he not only aye1ted
its danger by mastery manouyring, but
held the ground lac had won.
IN THE TnICK OF THE FRAY.
During the seven days OF battle around
Richmond Anderson was in The Trick of
the fray. AT blood-stained Gaines farm
no was conspicuous. There, rs night
approached, and Mcclellan still held the
plateau around the house, Longstrect
rode up to Anderson and said that tho
position must be carried before night
and that his brigade was the last he had
to send. This was not pleasant tidings
to wearied troops who had been fighting
for twelve hours, but Anderson promptly
answered, off any one brigade can do it
mine can" In O short time Mcclellan
was driven from his last vantage ground
and the "masterly change of base" was II
forced necessity.
GOING UP HIGHER.
Anderson was now promoted and had
IN narE with his old brjpade. His diyi-
sion, composed OF brigades from Virginia,
Georgia, Florida, Alabams and Mlissis-
sippi, which had not previously seen
much aetiYs service, soon proved itself
worthy of its gallant commander, and
gained q reputation second to none IN
the array. With It he had q place at the
Second Manassas, Thence he led IL into
Maryland, where, by daring Rudacity,
b. assisted in holding Franktin's bosts
check at Pleasant Valley until Hnr-
er,gFpeFry s~urrendered, and then hurried